What I feared, and the singular reason I decided to not do the faires full time was realized last evening.  As I was packing up the last gown at the end of GLMF my phone rang.  It was my sister.  She waited until she thought I was finished at the faire to call to tell me that our Mom is back in the hospital.
It seems that Mom went to church yesterday morning and passed out.  My sister said she apparently began shaking badly.  They got her to the hospital where they discovered she has a fever of 103 degrees and she was experiencing severe pain in her jaw.  My sister says her face is drooping, as if she had palsy again.  They ran a series of tests and have yet to discover the cause.
Please pray for Mom, if you will.  Send your good thoughts again, as I know they helped her to get through her last situation only two months ago.
Mom is 75 and I realize she's not a spring chicken anymore, but I am holding my breath as I prepare to go to see her today.  I will keep you posted.
And, I want to say to those who were at GLMF and I didn't get to hug "Farewell", I will see you again next year, whether I'm working there or just visiting.  I'll  miss you and I love you all.  You're the most wonderful people on Earth!
God bless my Faire Family.  God bless Mom.
Love, Sharon, aka ~Jezzy

I sit here even now with a lump in my throat as I recall the most overwhelming, warmest reception of my life!

This past weekend, spent at Great Lakes Medieval Faire was heartwarming and joyful to say the absolute least!  After nearly two months being away from the faires, and a year away from my GLMF family, I was overwhelmed by the excited, smiling faces, eyes widened and voices squealing with mutual recognition..."OMG, You're Here!!!"  Feet and legs running and carrying us toward each other as quickly as we could muster in some cases.  Arms flung tightly around each other, squeezing every ounce of energy from one another as if to make it a virtual part of our own body.  To pull each other's essences into our own hearts and blood to carry with us for the rest of eternity.

My GLMF family is the biggest and most awesome family in the world!  I've also acquired a new family at the Florida faires, who are just as awesome, and what could be better than to see even some of them, scattered among my old GLMF family this weekend.  It was nearly the best of both worlds.  There were some who were noticably missing and who I can't wait to see as soon as they can make it to the faire.  Others I know I may never see again, or I'll see them another year.  Thank goodness we have internet and phones and, of course, the Tell-A-Rennie service!  *lol*

I just want to say I cherish each and every one of you, no matter which faire it was I met you.  I have you all stuffed into my heart, which swells with love and gets bigger with each new friend I make, and each new hug.  Most of you will never know just what you've added to my life, or what you mean to me.  But, I want you all to know how special you are to me, as you've demonstrated how special I am to you over the past few years, and most especially over this past weekend.  I'll treasure these memories of you, your hugs, your sharing of your lives, your meade *evil grin*, and your love!  Until next we meet, Huzzah to ALL!